EDT 4.0 Release history

EDT 4.0.168 1/12/2017 When inserting an Excel formula manually into task data sheet the value would be calculated but the formula would be removed. In addition some tasks with lookup lists might cause the row error messages to be duplictaed.

EDT 4.0.160 27/09/2017 15:04 GMT : Modified Workstation serial numbers to be a combination of {domain name}+{machine name}. Non domain machines use the Hard Disk serial number + machine name. For this to take effect for a workstation you need to de-Register using the MyLicences page, then restart EDT and re-register the workstation. This change does not affect existing workstation registrations. This change is to help users running EDT on virtual machines.

EDT 4.0.155 9/08/2017 10:00 GMT : Client requested new option for SQL Lookup lists : A new action has been added for 'when a cell value does not represent an available option from a drop down list'. The new option is 'Change cell value to the first in the list' which automatically resets invalid cell values for SQL Lookup columns or task parameters. This is very useful when you have dynamic SQL in the lookup that includes a merge code that refers to another column or parameter - as in the example below.

EDT 3.3 Release history

EDT 3.3.324 19/11/2016 15:15 GMT: bug fixes 1) - when applying a bold or custom color to column headings the heading background would always appear white. 2) Drop down now resized to a width slightly smaller than the current column width to ensure the cell Grab handle is still available for mouse drag-fill operation. 3) Dropdown font 1 point smaller than current cell to improve visibility of drop down content.

EDT 3.3.322 19/11/2016 12:47 GMT: bug fixes 1) 'Text' format on columns allowing leading zeros (for example) would not apply correctly. 2) Total Rows number in the Ribbon (previously out by 1). 3) Task 'Save As' function - this would fail if a different task folder was selected.

EDT 3.3.282 18/08/2016 07:58 GMT: For Russian or other non Western language - added defualt Code Page for task configuration files to "UTF-16" - this can be changed if required in Global settings. Include support for Unicode SQL Server statement generation by including the "N" prefix to unicode text for example: N'Нам лорэм зигнёфэрумквюы ыт'

EDT 3.3.244 28/06/2016 15:46 GMT: When modifying the destination Connection string a message 'Could not set text property' would sometimes appear, although not affecting functionality. In addition when changing the destination connection string the Data Source connection string would be reset to blank.

EDT 3.3.242 21/06/2016 17:00 GMT: Resolved paste data to a drop down column as the clipboard would be cleared when navigating to the column; not affecting all versions of Windows - but notably Windows Server versions.

EDT 3.3.230 11/06/2016 11:00 GMT: Minor modification to help with a paste data issue involving a lookup column as source and destination.

EDT 3.3.229 10/06/2016 17:45 GMT: If Active Directory returned an error for when testing Group Memberships on startup, the remaining groups would not be tested. This would have the ebirffect that Tasks restricted by AD Task membership may not be listed.

EDT 3.3.227 09/06/2016 15::20 GMT: Stored procedure SQL incorrectly validating the row following an invalid row. Clipboard was being cleared when navigating to/from a column containing a drop down list.

EDT 3.3.223 24/05/2016 17:33 GMT: Merge Parameters within SQL data source would cause ODBC error when editing a task, although this did not prevent task operation or ability to edit the Task. When using a Stored Procedure as a destination, and Continue past first error batch option the stored procedure error messages were not displayed correctly.

EDT 3.3.175 7/10/2015 13:45 GMT: Licencing model changed to support Citrix type environments. EDT Licencing uses the environment variable 'ClientName' that is set by to the local users machine and is set by remote desktop / citrix software.

EDT 3.3.169 23/09/2015 21:00 GMT: Fixed lookup connection 'Retry' prompt that would occur when switching between two tasks that both have SQL based task parameters.
EDT 3.3.167 23/09/2015 21:00 GMT: Fixed configuration column alignment on Windows 10 machines
EDT 3.3.166 19/09/2015 21:00 GMT: Removed the beta Global Parameter section from the Global Settings - a feature to be released in Version 4.0.
EDT 3.3.164 16/09/2015 21:00 GMT: Removed the default timeout (30 seconds) from Post SQL execution. There is now no limit, EDT will wait indefinately for the SQL to complete.
EDT 3.3.160 15/09/2015 16:30 GMT: Issue with Post SQL not running resolved (affecting 157 onwards).
EDT 3.3.158 14/09/2015 14:00 GMT: Removed the test Cancel buttons from the far left of task Configuration form.
EDT 3.3.157 14/09/2015 13:00 GMT: Added new Merge Parameter {XL-merge:EDT_SourceFileName} that can be used when loading data from an excel or text file. In addition the connection to the Source file is closed before running any Post SQL command, so that any file lock does not interfere with a file Move operation for example with the Post SQL.

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EDT 3.3.155 02/09/2015 11:54 GMT: Default Excel formula values not working for SQL lookup lists consisting of key and value pairs..
EDT 3.3.154 23/08/2015 09:32 GMT: Allow blank entry in Fixed lists (non SQL). Drop down search list comment might no auto hide when clicking another cell.
EDT 3.3.152 22/08/2015 20:56 GMT: 'Application Report to Lean software automatic link to the HelpDesk was not working correctly.
EDT 3.3.150 22/08/2015 19:30 GMT: If no has no initial data - and using Excel validation a non-critical error message would show on task load.
EDT 3.3.145 22/08/2015 15:30 GMT: New feature: User Column Help text : available to the user when hovering the mouse over the column title. Column help text can be added to the 'Destination Columns' of the task designer.
EDT 3.3.141 22/08/2015 10:45 GMT: Slight screen flicker on task load resolved. Drop down list would reset on selection if list SQL referenced a column merge code.
EDT 3.3.140 21/08/2015 16:45 GMT: First task parameter would show a red comment symbol in top right of the cell.
EDT 3.3.139 20/08/2015 16:00 GMT: When creating a New task, and adding new task parameters with of the QL lookups, when testing the lookup using the 'Test lookup' option the test function would use the connection from the previously loaded task, rather than the connection from the new task.
EDT 3.3.136 20/08/2015 18:00 GMT: When data contains an apostrophe and 'Merge Number Format' was checked in column options, the apostrophe would not be escaped in the merged SQL sent to the database. Issue with data column autofit resolved.
EDT 3.3.131 19/08/2015 18:00 GMT: When entering the configuration screen for a task and when the destination is a stored procedure then the app may prompt to import 'mandatory' settings for procedure parameters, the column mandatory setting however is not always necessary when using custom row SQL code.
EDT 3.3.129 18/08/2015 13:00 GMT: New column Hyperlink options to allow merge codes in both a hyperlink URL and Hyperlink display text. Corrected functionality for MySQL exec procedure code generation. Corrected code for ORACLE to auto escape apostrophe in data. Corrected column auto resizing problems with dropdown lists.
EDT 3.3.125 08/08/2015 13:40 GMT: Excel validation : allow 'Warnings' and 'Information' options as well as 'Stop' options, so a warning can be displayed rather than invalidating the data. Ensure the 'Show message' option is checked when editing an already configured Validation rule.
EDT 3.3.123 07/08/2015 13:40 GMT: NULL values not always being specified correctly in merged SQL, affecting EDT 3.3.86 onwards.
EDT 3.3.121 07/08/2015 16:00 GMT: If TRIMMED source data is an empty string send as NULL is SQL row operations.
EDT 3.3.119 06/08/2015 16:00 GMT: Where the local decimal separator is not a dot (eg Dutch uses a comma), replace the merged number text decimal separator with a dot.
EDT 3.3.117 06/08/2015 15:00 GMT: Quotation marks appearing around decimal/numeric/integer values in auto generated INSERT SQL.
EDT 3.3.116 06/08/2015 15:00 GMT: Affecting International users (language pack other than US/English). Cell validation errors would occur on valid data, showing the '#VALUE' message in the Validation column.
EDT 3.3.114 05/08/2015 15:00 GMT: When clicking (data) 'Load' on the EDT Ribbon, the parameter validation was not being fired. The user had to navigate off the current parameter cell before validation would fire. A (possible) fix is also included for international users where '#VALUE!' would appear in the Validation status column. Column auto fit not functioning correctly with multi-line column headers.
EDT 3.3.111 30/07/2015 12:00 GMT: SQL Lookup Search Style columns : drop down resize to small size if SQL resulted in no result. Additionally Task load now deletes and shapes/images that may have been inadvertently pasted into the application worksheets.
EDT 3.3.108 28/07/2015 10:00 GMT: SQL Lookup columns : drop down would not populate if the task has no data source.
EDT 3.3.105 28/07/2015 15:00 GMT: SQL Lookups not functioning correctly when SQL contains merge codes referring to other lookup cells.
EDT 3.3.104 24/07/2015 15:00 GMT: First option of drop down lists could not be selected.
EDT 3.3.96 21/07/2015 10:00 GMT: Single quotation marks were being doubled up in Parameter SQL lookup code. Added code to centre forms correctly when running multiple monitors. Do not show drop down on lookup columns that have the Lock option specified. New Active Directory button 'View Group Memberships'.
EDT 3.3.94 10/07/2015 19:00 GMT: New Batch option 'Allow Validation of unmodified rows'.
EDT 3.3.92 10/07/2015 08:00 GMT: Amendment to ensure the Lookup column Key value is set, even if the row has not been modified.
EDT 3.3.90 09/07/2015 11:00 GMT: New task Parameters option 'Minimum number of Parameters that must have values'.
EDT 3.3.87 08/07/2015 20:21 GMT: Amendment to address reported active directory issue.
EDT 3.3.86 08/07/2015 19:50 GMT: Good performance boost for tasks that use SQL lookup columns. This has been achieved by developing a new super fast technique for obtaining key values for lookup columns.
EDT 3.3.84 07/07/2015 16:50 GMT: Lookup columns not merging the correct 'KEY' value when clicking the Validation button. Lookup columns not working when a a displayformat was applied to the column - for example leading zeros and the the lookup column values contained leading zeros.
EDT 3.3.80 30/06/2015 10:00 GMT: Display format not being applied on task data load. Excel column Filter extended to include the Validation Status column.
EDT 3.3.74 27/05/2015 21:33 GMT: Modified task parameters to not remove the SQL 'Where' clause when initially populating. Whilst this feature enhanced performance it was unworkable with complex SQL.
EDT 3.3.74 27/05/2015 21:33 GMT: Enhanced error message display for task parameters that include an SQL lookup query (dropdown)
EDT 3.3.73 27/05/2015 21:33 GMT: Fix (application error on task edit) only affecting the 32bit version of Office and
EDT 3.3.72
EDT 3.3.72 26/05/2015 21:33 GMT: Fix (application load error) only affecting the 64 bit version of Office
EDT 3.3.71 15/04/2015 21:33 GMT: Fix (Only affecting EDT 3.3.68) with Excel 2010 the EDT was not visible on load. Excel 2013 users not affected.
EDT 3.3.68 14/04/2015 19:44 GMT: Fix to performance of in column complex SQL lookup lists. App launch speed improved. Foundation code added in preparation for EDT V3.4 release.
EDT 3.3.56 17/03/2015 18:00 GMT: Fix to Parameter lookups - sql lookup parameter data source was not being reset when switching tasks. When clicking a cell outside of the parameter lookup dropdown, the dropdown would no longer function correctly. EDT 3.3.54 11/03/2015 18:00 GMT: SAP Sybase Support. Fix to Parameter hot search feature.
EDT 3.3.40 08/03/2015 18:00 GMT: Visual FoxPro 9 : correction in auto generated SQL - Dates surrounded by curly brackets and in the unambiguous format {^yyyy-mm-dd}
EDT 3.3.37 06/03/2015 12:00 GMT: Visual FoxPro 9 Support
EDT 3.3.34 05/03/2015 18:00 GMT: Multi-line Column headers not displaying correctly, Encrypted task might have caused Overflow Error, Clicking 'New Task' after task edit may did not always function correctly. Protected Connection added to ensure connection has not dropped at the point of Validate or Send data.
EDT 3.3.29 23/02/2015 14:00 GMT: Modification to address Active Directory issue
EDT 3.3.28 17/02/2015 17:00 GMT: If the installed application path contained the string '\App' the program would error when saving configuration data
EDT 3.3.27 17/02/2015 17:00 GMT: When task Encryption was used - print options did not load correctly, causing error on Task Edit
EDT 3.3.17 03/02/2015 22:00 GMT: Shipped without ActiveX Controls - resolving startup issue relating Excel 2010 and Windows Update
EDT 3.3.9 02/02/2015 22:00 GMT: Shipped with ActiveX Controls - start error relating Excel 2010 and Windows Update
EDT 3.3.8 28/01/2015 22:00 GMT: When running EDT from a Hyperlink, then task parameters were not cleared on subsequent application load.
EDT 3.3.5 28/01/2015 09:00 GMT: Initial 3.3 Release

New V3.3 New features

Hyperlink formatting

Task columns can now have a hyperlink format (clickable cell jumping to an external web or intranet page).

The new option is available from the column format button :

(click image to enlarge)

In the example above hyperlink is a combination of a valid URL and a Task parameter PostalCode:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/search/{XL-Merge:PostalCode}

The hyperlink format is applied on task load - and here if we now click on the cell the location of the Zip is displayed in the browser:

Clicking this example link takes the user to Google maps at the ZIP location:

Excel import by Sheet Number

When importing Excel data it is sometimes the case the Worksheet names may vary.

In previous versions of EDT the import had to specify a Worksheet name.

A new option has been added to the Data Source tab, that when ticked will allow you to specify the worksheet ordinal number, rather than worksheet name. EDT uses a special merge code to specify the sheet name, these are replaced by the physical sheet names when data source is queried.

Here is an example -

In this example the worksheet name in the query is replaced with a merge code {XL-MergeSheetName:1}, if we wanted to select from the second worksheet the merge code would be {XL-MergeSheetName:2} and so on.

Launch EDT via a hyperlink and pass Task Parameters

An EDT task can be launched from a URL, specifying the Task GUID and task parameters.

URL Syntax : leanedt:/task: /P1:ParamValue1
/P2:
ParamValue2 etc..

Here is a sample HTML page containing hyperlinks to EDT:

When saved as an .htm file we see now this example in a web browser:

Clicking one the hyperlinks loads EDT, then loads the specified task and sets the specified parameter:

The Task GUID can be found and copied from the EDT 'Task File & Security' tab.

Launch EDT from a command file and pass Task Parameters

In a similar way the EDT_32.exe or EDT_64.exe application can also accept parameters in a similar format :

Version Control and Incremental backup

New Version control and backup options have been added to the Task File tab:

Major, Minor and Revision numbers, with the option to auto increment revision number on task save.

Optional incremental backup will save each revision in a sub directory named 'Backup'.

Backup files are named with the Task name + Version number.

Version History and Designer Log

A new Task tab 'Design Log' has been created to hold version notes and general Task designer notes.

If the the option 'Prompt for Revision note on Save' is set - a popup appears on Task Save :

Speed improvements

As ever we are continually improving performance, so you should also see an improvement in task loading speed.

In particular tasks that involve drop down lists with SQL that contains merge codes has been significantly improved.

ActiveX-less solution

Microsoft Windows update (December 2014) was found to cause issues with Excel applications that contain Active X controls, such as buttons or drop down lists.

To avoid this issue entirely, EDT now ships without containing any Active X controls at all. The application does use the Active X drop down list but creates this object on start up, thus avoiding any similar future Windows Update issues.

V3.2.149 12-11-2014 : 15:05 GMT - SQL Lookup containing a merge code did not re-evaluate when another cell on the same row was modified.

V3.2.145 12-11-2014 : 15:05 GMT - SQL Lookup column validation (ensuring entered value is within the drop down list) would not fire if the column also has a default value excel formula. Modified SQL Lookup form to enlarge the SQL edit window by moving the Test SQL to a separate popup form. Allow for a custom sql lookup error message, rather than the default value of 'Value not found in lookup list'.

V3.2.81 23-09-2014 : 19:00 GMT - App may fail to load with "Array contains non-variant type". Delete task would err after delete confirmation. Report with subtotals would err if the datasource returned no data.

New Schema Selection drop down on the task configuration data destination tab:

New Schema Selection drop down on the task configuration data source tab:

Extended Schema Information

Extended column properties are now imported into a task definition.

Title : obtained from the database column Description property

Default Value : excel default value formula is now automatically created from the the database column Default value property

Mandatory : Set depending on the database column Allow Nulls property

These extended properties are automatically imported when creating a new task, saving you time, and are offered as an optional import when configuring an existing task.
All or only selected properties can be imported, as shown below :

Click 'Import' to set task column options to match the database properties.

Excellent stability after a substantial beta testing program with Nissan Motor Manufacturing

When inserting a 'Work column' then clicking the work column the field list would scroll to the top

Some error messages may have been experienced when connecting databases in configuration form

On a new installation when running for the first time the default password of 'lean' is displayed

Notes:

2.8 Beta shipped with utility 'EDT_Start.exe', the utility was designed to determine the local version of Excel and then run the correct version of EDT.In beta testing however it was found that using the utility increased the EDT application load time by an unacceptabledegree.The utility was therefore withdrawn from the final release.

'Send formatted value' :an Excel number format can be applied to a column such as number of decimal places.This new option allows you to send this formatted value to the database rather than the underlying value.

Upgrade automation options:

Upgrade check from LeanSoftware.net

Upgrade check from local network share

Button layout improved to maximise available work space

Button spacing equal when Clear/Script/Help options enabled/disabled

Further performance improvemnets - in tests we can load and validate 10k rows in aprox 2 seconds

Hide Excel menus option functions for all versions of Excel

64 bit build - for Microsoft Office 64 Bit

Issues resolved

Could not edit or paste into connection string when initialy creating a Task

If cancel Configuration form, then re-load the selected task - message could not connect to database was received

If data source returned no data, validate would not instigate when pasting in new data

Some international versions(such as Spanish, Portugese) versions of Excel would report error :Invalid Procedure call Line 40 of Workbook Open

Users were unable to manually resize columns

Worksheet was not correctly protected

Further performance boost (Validate or Send process):

100 rows: 0.2 seconds

1000 rows 1.2 seconds

10,000 rows 3.5 seconds

Performance is dependent on your workstation and server specification.

EDT

V2.0.987b

11th October 2012

Excel Database Tasks V2 - beta phase 1 release

2.0.987b (32bit) & 2.0.988b (64bit) update & bug fixes

In this release

Problem fixes for first beta release:

1/when using the task ‘New’ button in the config form it was found that the task GUID (a unique number stored in the task file) would not be correct for the task, it would in fact use the GUID from the previously loaded task.

This has the effect that the main application task dropdown would not always reposition correctly after editing a task.

2/ if a formula was removed from a column in the task configuration the formula would still persist in worksheet

3/ if a formula calculation resulted in an error, modifying the formula in the configuration form would not be reflected in the worksheet

Additional Features:

64 Bit Microsoft Office Support !

New task options -

Prevent send until all rows are valid

Allow user to modify default formula

New formula editing & testing popup

EDT

V2.0.907

Monday 8th October 2012

Excel Database Tasks V2 - beta phase 1 release

The beta programme for V2 is being split into two phases, the functionality of each phase is detailed below.

V2 Feature

Beta phase 1

October 2012

Beta phase 2

November 2012

Dramatic performance

Yes

-

Easy to use connection wizard

Yes

-

Integration with Excel data validation

Yes

-

Integration with Excel column display format

Yes

-

Integration with Excel conditional formatting

Yes

-

Encryption of task settings

Yes

-

Support for multiple task locations

Yes

-

New work columns

Yes

-

Formula validation

Yes

-

Column width options: auto/min/max/wrap

Yes

-

Hide / display column

Yes

-

Screen resolution support down to 1024x768

Yes

-

Redesigned task configuration form

Yes

-

New progress indicator showing pass/fail progress and estimated time to complete

This new functionality is added to make lighter work of processing large numbers of rows.

SQL Connection strings

Previously the system required you to create and select and ODBC data set name

This had drawbacks and user name and password are not always stored with some ODBC drivers.

This new functionality allows you to use SQL Server authentication, and allows us to start testing with Oracle and other ODBC drivers where a user name and password are required.

Validate/Send summary popup : requested wish list

As requested, we have added a summary popup after Validate and Send :

Issues Resolved

There was as issue with Version 1.0.81 whereby the ODBC connection dialogue would popup more than once when configuring a Task. This caused problems in particular when creating Tasks to send data to stored procedures. This issue was reported by Partner for Windows users.

The drop down box of stored procedures was excessively long, making it difficult to select items as they may be located off screen on systems with a large number of tables or procedures.